Orbea reveals Orca Aero Disc + video

Orbea has revealed a disc brake version of its Orca Aero road bike that comes into the lineup alongside the rim brake model that was launched this time last year.

Cannondale, Specialized, Trek , BMC and Wilier have also unveiled new disc brake aero bikes over the past few days - like them the new Orca Aero promises to make your ride significantly faster.

Check out our review of the rim brake version of the Orbea Orca Aero here. 

The Orca Aero Disc features many of the same features as the rim brake model. The Freeflow fork has a wide gap between the legs that’s said to reduce airflow pressure. Those legs are made to a 3:1 depth:width ratio, which is the maximum permitted by UCI regulations. The fork crown flows into the down tube, the idea being to manage the airflow in that area.

The huge down tube has double radius profile with flattened sides that Orbea says improves airflow at higher yaw angles. The tube profiles are truncated – they’re chopped off square – “which softens the airflow towards the bottle cages”, according to Orbea. 

You get the choice of two different positions for the down tube bottle cage, which is something we’re seeing on quite a lot of aero road bikes these days. While the upper position is more accessible, the lower option is more aerodynamically efficient.

Orbea says that the head tube, bottom bracket and chainstay junctions have been are optimised for torsional strength. It also says that the sections have been designed differently for each size frame for more rigidity.

The bike features an aero seatpost that’s designed to reduce turbulence (which leads to drag), and a seatpost clamp that sits flush with the frame. 

Orbea claims that its ICR Plus internal cable routing design is “friction-free, easy to install and low maintenance”. The same frame is compatible with both mechanical and electronic shift systems.

The brakes are flat mount standard, as they are on the vast majority of new road bikes, and the wheels are held in place by 12mm thru axles front and rear.

The Orbea Orca Aero Disc is available in five different versions, all built around the same carbon frame and fork:

• Orca Aero M30 Team-D £2,999
Groupset Shimano 105
Wheels Fulcrum Racing 400 DB

• Orca Aero M20 Team-D £3,199
Groupset Shimano Ultegra
Wheels Fulcrum Racing 400 DB

• Orca Aero M20i Team-D £3,899
Groupset Shimano Ultegra Di2
Wheels Fulcrum Racing 400 DB

• Orca Aero M10 Team-D £4,499
Groupset Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels DT Swiss ER 1600 Spline DB 32 CL TL

• Orca Aero M10i Team-D £7,199
Groupset Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Wheels DT Swiss ARC 1400 Dicut DB 48 Carbon CL TL
 

They come in seven different sizes ranging from 47cm to 60cm.

You can also customise the finish, components, crank length, stem length and handlebar width, and add your name to the frame using Orbea’s MyO program.

For more info go to www.orbea.com.